Lowell @ Muskegon

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Welcome to The Muskegon Chronicle and MLive.com's coverage of the Muskegon football Game of the Week. Undefeated rivals Muskegon and Lowell will face off starting at 7 p.m. in Hackley Stadium in a week four matchup that may be a postseason preview.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: The game pits the No. 1 and No. 2 Division 2 teams in the state against each other, with the Red Arrows currently occupying the top spot. Lowell has beaten Muskegon in their past three meetings, all in the playoffs, including a 36-7 win the Division 2 district title game last year.

Hal - Where Can I listen to the game live? msr.com doesn't have it

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Hal, the game can be found on the radio at 101.7 WMRR and 100.1 WVIV, though we hope you'll stick with us here and give us your reaction even if you tune in to the radio broadcast.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Chronicle and MLive local sports czar Mark Opfermann thinks the Big Reds will pull off a narrow 24-22 win. Are you picking Muskegon to win tonight or do you predict the No. 1 Red Arrows will make it four wins in a row over Muskegon?

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Lowell will kick off and will defend the south end zone. Muskegon start the game with a first and ten from their own 22.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Muskegon's quarterback Jalen Smith is already looking dangerous, completing a pass for a first down before keeping the ball for a run to Lowell's 38. On the following play John King ran for 19 yards. Muskegon is already down to Lowell's 15.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Touchdown Muskegon. Marcus Smith takes a second down pitch 15 yards and Muskegon was ruthless on that opening drive. The PAT is good and two minutes and 20 seconds into this game the Big Reds are leading 7-0.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Grand Haven gets the ball first and returns it to its own the 25-yard line in its home game against Mona Shores

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Following the kickoff Lowell takes over from its 23 already down a touchdown with 9:34 to go in the opening quarter.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Muskegon forces a three and out with some stiff run defense. Following Lowell's punt, the Big Reds take over from its 36.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Grand Haven coughs up the football on downs. The Bucs went for it on 4th and 2 at t he Mona shores 34 but Penland couldn't handle the snap in the pistol formation.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Muskegon is rolling again on its second drive. A combination of pass and run plays has quickly moved Muskegon down the field. The Big Reds have a first down on Lowell's 31.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Muskegon looking strong so far on both sides. Offense has softened things up a little with the pass.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: This game was billed as a battle between Muskegon's ground attack and Lowell's defense. Lowell won the most recent round, Red Arrows got into the backfield on two consecutive plays for a tackle for a loss and a sack. Muskegon is forced to put on fourth and 20. It goes through the end zone and Lowell takes back over at its 20.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - On a 4th-down play Jackson hits Chris Bradford in the left flat and he lunges over the goal line for a 5-yard TD reception. Mona Shores strikes first and leads 7-0 just 3 minutes into the game.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Ronald Jenkins got into the pocket and knocked down an attempted Lowell pass on third and nine. The Red Arrows punt and Sherman Hodges makes it his own 37 before a shoestring tackle brings him down.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Grand Haven held to a 3-out series by Shores, which gets the ball back with 7:47 to play first quarter.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Big first down thanks to some trickeration. With 3 minutes left in the first quarter Muskegon faced third and nine from its own 38. E'monte Briggs takes a short pitch in the backfield and passes it back to quarterback Jalen Smith, who gets up to Lowell's 48.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Huge turn of events at Grand Haven. Mona Shores fumbles on its own 8 yard line. The Bucs recover and back Abe Westerman cashes in on their first play to tie the score at 7-all, 7:12 remaining first quarter.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Muskegon would really like to punch another in here. Lowell seems to be defending the run better.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: At the end of the first quarter Muskegon leads Lowell 7-0. They'll start the second facing second and 12 with the ball on Lowell's 27.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Big pass to Craig. Looked like he took a couple steps with ball. Shurlow from Lowell helped strip it away. Refs called no catch.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Touchdown Muskegon. On fourth down Javontae Langston takes a pitch to the edge and runs it 27 yards to the house. The PAT is good and Muskegon leads 14-0 with 11:41 to go in the second quarter.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Lowell gets a nice return from Jake Mitchell on the kickoff and start from its own 39, trailing by 14 very early in the second quarter.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - This appears to be two even teams between Grand Haven and Mona Shores and the clock winds down on the first quarter. The Sailors are doing a good job of stretching the Bucs' defense and opening up some holes now on the inside.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Running back Kanon Dean, son of the Red Arrow's head coach Noel, has been moving the chains by driving through the middle of Muskegon's defense on this drive. Following a Muskegon sack Lowell have the back on the Big Red's 16 facing second and 15.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - What's the most impressive part of the Big Reds' performance so far?

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Scott, Muskegon's defense has given up yardage on the ground this drive, but the Big Reds' line is still playing very fast and physical. Ronald Jenkins in particular has already come up big a couple times. He just forced fourth down with another knocked down pass.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - The most impressive part of the game here has been Shores' ability to run or pass on any down. The Sailors face a big 4th-and-4 call at the Grand Haven 20. They've called a timeout to talk about it.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Touchdown Lowell. Facing fourth and 15 from Muskegon's 16, Anderson dealt with a lot of pressure in the pocket by rolling to the right and connecting with a leaping Kyler Sherlow in the end zone. The PAT is good and it's 14-7 with 8:25 left in the first half.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Lowell QB really extended play there by scrambling to the right. Great catch by Shurlow.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Shores tries to trick Grand Haven with a hitch-and-go, but the Bucs play great defense to stop the Sailors drive at the 20.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: First and ten for the Big Reds from their 46. Two huge fourth down plays have led to touchdowns in this game. Lots of gutsy playcalling from the No. 1 and No. 2 Division 2 teams in the state.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Big first down for the Bucs there to give the defense a breather.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - King looked like he had first down. Short on measure with questionable spot. 4th and 1.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: A run from King on third and four doesn't quite get Muskegon a first down following a measurement. The fans are loudly unhappy with that spot but Muskegon for it on fourth and inches and King runs up the middle for a fresh set of downs. Muskegon has first and ten from the Red Arrows' 43 with 6:15 to go in the second quarter.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Big Reds go for it on fourth down. Want to keep the momentum and not give the ball back to Lowell.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Mona Shores defense steps up to force Grand Haven punt. It's still 7-7 with 7:10 left in the first half.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Touchdown Muskegon. Marcus Smith takes a second down pitch to the left 43 yards. Following a penalty on the first attempt, the PAT goes wide ride. Muskegon leads 20-7.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Quite a run by Smith. Didn't think he had room on the sideline there. Once he did, open space ahead.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Looks like the offenses are really starting to click for both teams. Lowell back on the move.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Darnell Longmire punches it in from 1-yard out Touchdown Mona Shores with 5:31 to play first half its 14-7 Sailors. Key play on the drive was a 49-yard pass from Jackson to Marquon Sargent down to the 1.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Another great return from Jake Mitchell and a facemask call gives Lowell great field position. The Red Arrows start from Muskegon's 45 and complete a 12 yard pass on their first play and another first down pass on their second. Lowell is already down to Muskegon's 19.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Touchdown Lowell. Titan Anderson on the QB sneak from the goalline. PAT is good and this game is turning into a shootout. Muskegon leading 20-14 with 3:50 left in the second quarter.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Muskegon's PAT debacle on their third touchdown could be the sort of thing that comes back to haunt the Big Reds late in the game.

Skid Rock - Or that 3rd TD could come back to haunt Lowell...... I hope.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Lowell answers with TD and now penalty on Big Reds. Muskegon doesn't want to give ball left with time on clock here in first half.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Jalen Smith throws incomplete facing third and four from its 28 with 1:43 to go in the half. A very poor punt from Hodges will give Lowell the ball inside Muskegon's half at the 47.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Asantay Brown picks off a pass at his own 23 and returns it to Grand Haven 20 with 4:13 to play in the half. Sailors knocking on the door again.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Just what Lowell wanted. Plenty of time before half. Drive starting at Muskegon 47.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Thanks for following along from Texarkana Marcus! That's great. Are you a Muskegon alum? You've certainly tuned into what's shaping up to be a thriller. This was expected to be a great game and it has not disappointed.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Whether you're in South Korea or South Haven (okay that was a stretch. Sorry.), you're going to want to stick with us for the second half of both this Muskegon-Lowell game and Scott's updates from Mona Shores vs. Grand Haven, where Shores currently leads 14-7. Any updates Scott?

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Welcome in Karl! I have a cousin who lives in South Korea as well. Glad you can "Listen in".

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Just reached halftime at Grand Haven, where Mona Shores has a 14-7 lead. Very impressive half for the Sailors, who could be up by another score.

vernon - Can I have an update on the Livonia Stevenson v. South Lyon game, s'il vous plait?

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Back to our English-language coverage of tonight's game: Muskegon's marching band is off the field and we're less than three minutes away from the second half of this excellent matchup.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Lowell will get ball to start the second half. Let's see what team can come up with most stops on defense. Pass plays by both teams have loosened things up a little bit.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Lowell returns the opening kick to its 27. The second half is underway.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Very cool sight to see all the purple shirts and uniforms being worn at Buccaneer Stadium tonight as part of Grand Haven's Bucs Pride Cancer awareness and fundraiser night. The players have names of cancer survivors or cancer victims they are honoring on their jerseys. Second annual event here. Last year they raised over $12,000!

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Touchdown Lowell. And what a start to the half. A flat-out wide open Cody Bieri caught a short pass and never looked back, chugging 73 yards down the field. PAT is good and it's Lowell 21, Muskegon 20.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Lowell's kick goes into the endzone. Muskegon takes over trailing for the first time with 11:42 to go in the third quarter.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Let's see how Muskegon's responds. Crowd a little shocked after that last touchdown.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Sherman Hodges just dropped what would have been a first down catch. Muskegon forced to punt. Lowell will take over on the Muskegon 46 with great field position and lots of momentum.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Mona Shores will get the ball first in the second half. A TD drive to start would be huge to take the Purple crowd out of the game.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Muskegon DB E'monte Briggs was out injured for Muskegon's playoff loss to Lowell last year. He stepped up on this drive to limit the Red Arrows' passing attack. Lowell forced to punt.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Touchdown Muskegon. This game. This game right now. Marcus Smith takes a handoff on first down from the Muskegon 11 and goes 89 yards down the right sideline. Wow.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: More PAT shenanigans. A Lowell penalty moves the ball half the distance to the goal, and Muskegon elect to go for two. John King drops a pass that would have been good for the covnersion. It's Muskegon 26, Lowell 21.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Another Jackson to Brown hookup for Shores. The Bucs even rolled the safety over to help and it didn't matter as Brown makes a diving catch at the 45 of Grand Haven.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Shores throws two incompletions in a row. If I were the Sailors I'd add an extra run or two in to try and push the Bucs around a little. Sailors forced to punt.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Lowell takes over from its own 20 following a touchback. Eight minutes to go in the third quarter.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Grand Haven blocks the punt!!! The Bucs take over at the Sailor 48. It would have been at the Sailor 33 but the sideline judges throws a flag at the players and coaches on the sidelines for impeding his progress and being too close to the field.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: The Big Reds' defense comes up big on a third and two, deflecting another pass at the line. Lowell forced to punt. And the punt doesn't happen. Zach Huver let the snap go between his fingers and he was able to recover and scramble to the edge before being dropped at the four. Muskegon with first and goal.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Touchdown Muskegon. What a change of momentum. John Hall punches it in from three yards. No problem with the PAT this time. Muskegon 33, Lowell 21.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - What a change in events. Lowell almost coughed it right up following Muskegon touchdown. Lucky to get it back at own 20,

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Asantay Brown comes up with his second interception of the day for Mona Shores! He returns it 34 yards to the Bucs 45.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Mona Shores driving with two first down plays in a row. The Grand Haven defense has stiffened before in the red zone, so let's see if the Sailors can finally go up by two scores or if the Bucs stay within striking distance.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Big third down sack for Muskegon. Lowell had seven yards to go from from its 20 and and Demetrius Brown wrapped up Anderson as he rolled in the pocket. Muskegon takes the following punt inside the Red Arrows' 40, but a penalty backs them up to their own 48.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Grand Haven rips the ball out of Shores receivers hands to force fumble, which the hosts recover on their own 5 yard line. Huge play there to keep the Sailors out of the end zone.

Ben Evans - Whats the Shores score?

Ben Evans - How much time?

Ben Evans - I'm a Big Red, but curious about Shores.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Muskegon takes a timeout facing third and four from the Lowell 35. Big Reds leading 33-21 with 1:56 left in the third quarter.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - 14-7 Shores, 5:14 left in the third quarter. Shores just got ball back on own 41.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Big third down here for Big Reds. Looking for a pass after this timeout.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: It's hard to say if this thing is over. Lowell have shown they can score very quickly and Muskegon, same as last week at Rockford, has a tendency to be its own worst enemy at times. Still, Muskegon's defense has been just as dominant on the line as the offense. If Muskegon scores again, I don't think Lowell can get back into it.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - It looked like Grand Haven had answered right back with an 84-yard kickoff return, but a penalty was called and puts the Bucs way back on their 23 yard line.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Jalen Smith is brought down deep in his backfield on third and nine. Muskegon will be forced to punt here on fourth and 16, giving up its great field position.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Offsides on Muskegon. Jalen Smith fumbles, picks it up and back to own 35.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - End of the third quarter with Mona Shores leading Grand Haven 21-7 and with the ball at the Bucs' 32-yard line.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Sorry about that folks. My internet connection took a nasty turn for the worse. Neither team scored in the interim. Lowell face a third and 10 from Muskegon's 27 with 5:30 left.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Lowell going to go for it here on fourth and 10. 5:23 to go. A Red Arrows' touchdown here would really change the complexion of this game.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Big penalty call. Would have been a touchdown for Lowell when Kyler Shurlow took a flat pass into the endzone. Ineligable reciever downfield. Lowell to try again. Fourth and 15 from the Muskegon 32.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Timout taken ahead of this big fourth down play. Sorry again for the interruption there. It's still Muskegon 33, Lowell 21 with 5:11 left at Hackley Stadium.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Huge penalty there. Would have gotten Lowell within one score. Let's see what happens here.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Another big Muskegon sack. Anderson taken down in the pocket and the Big Reds take over on downs. First and ten from the Muskegon 35.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Muskegon has won the battle in the trenches all night and it looks like it will win this big game because of that.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: 4:20 to go here in Muskegon, Big Reds leading 33-21 and looking at a third and 12.

Mark Opfermann|Chronicle, Mlive.com - Muskegon will looking to milk clock. Lowell calls timeout. Only one left for Lowell.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: First down for Muskegon on a 24-yard pass to Hodges keeps the clock running. The Lowell fans are headed for the exits. 3:47 left.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Mona Shores gets a big first down on a pass interference call with 9 minutes left in the game. Would've had to punt otherwise. The Sailors still cling to a 21-14 lead.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Jalen Smith doesn't look hurt at all as he breaks out another big run down inside the Lowell 25. A horse-collar tackle will tack a personal foul onto the end of that run and Muskegon has a first down at the Lowell 11.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Clock running under three minutes here and the Big Reds are in the red zone already leading by 12.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - It's getting intense here as both teams want this one. Shores gets a first down by the nose of the football on a 3rd and one play, then holds on first down while both teams get called for personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct. Will be first and 25.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Jalen Smith comes off the field and Muskegon will look to kick a field goal facing fourth and four.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Muskegon field goal. The 22-yard kick is good and Muskegon takes a commanding 36-21 lead. The Lowell fans are really streaming out of here now.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Muskegon will kick off with 1:02 to go.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - It looks like Mona Shores will have to punt from its own 48 facing a 4th-and-7 with 6:04 to play. Sailors up 21-14.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: That's one way to keep the clock running. Muskegon sacks Anderson yet again. Second and nineteen for Lowell on its own 20 with 15 seconds left.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Grand Haven takes over on its 22 down by a touchdown. 5:56 left. Haven has two timeouts left.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: That's your ballgame! Anderson is hit and fumbles the ball, John King picks the ball up and is brought down on the Lowell 20. Muskegon takes a knee with two seconds left and your final score is Muskegon 36, Lowell 21.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Asantay Brown with his third pick of the game for Shores. 5:19 to play, Sailors take over on Bucs' 28.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: What a huge win for Muskegon. The Big Reds knocked off Lowell for the first time in four meetings with an explosive display on both sides of the ball.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: John King didn't have a great game at running back for Muskegon, but he played well on defense, and Marcus Smith more than compensated for King from the backfield.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - First down Sailors at the 12 of Grand Haven, which needs a stop down a touchdown. If Shores can pick up a first down or score the touchdown the game would be over.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Sounds like Lowell keyed on stopping the fullback. Always tough to stop everyone in the veer when it's run right.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Third and 8 from the 10 with 2:45 and counting left in the game.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Longmire picks up just enough to get the first down. First and goal from the 2 for the Sailors.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Shores gets called for a hold but Mike Farley declines the penalty and calls timeout. 1:56 left to play, second and goal from the 3-yard line, Shores ball and Shores leading 21-14.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Shores gets called for a hold but Mike Farley declines the penalty and calls timeout. 1:56 left to play, second and goal from the 3-yard line, Shores ball and Shores leading 21-14.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Shores gets pushed back again, third and goal from the four as clock continues to run. Bucs saving last timeout.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Longmire gets down to the 2-yard line. fourth down. Do the Sailors go for the field goal or the touchdown?

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Shores calls timeout after letting the clock run down to 28 seconds left. Still no indication as to what they will do. I'm guessing going for the TD, and if they don't get it Grand Haven has to go the length of the field.

Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle/MLive.com - Mona Shores fumbles the handoff, but the back would not have made it anyway. Grand Haven is down 21-14 and has 24 seconds to go 95 yards.

Andrew Dooley | MLive.com: Your final scores: Muskegon 36, Lowell 21; Mona Shores 21, Grand Haven 14. Two wild games. Thanks for "tuning in" tonight and apologies for the brief lapse in coverage while we worked out some technical issues. Please vote for the next Game of the Week!